Two On Top

VYPE: Throughout your years of work in the City League, who is the most intriguing figure - player, coach or otherwise - you've come into contact with? Ron Allen: I've been in the league for a long time. Charles Goose Doughty (former Heights coach) was a man of great wisdom. He shared a lot of insights with me - correlations between basketball and life. I was just starting out coaching at West High School in the 1980s when I met him. He always would have a word of wisdom. Korleone Young was a great player. It didn't turn out like we wanted it to. I know he now goes oversees and plays in different countries. I think basketball still supports him. The last time I saw him was last year. He'll call and want to come over here to work out. He goes up to the 'Y', as well. VYPE: You're a former assistant basketball coach at Wichita State. Why are City League basketball players not moving on to play at WSU? Ron Allen: Kids that grow up here want to experience life away from here. I don't think it's a knock on Wichita State at all, I just think a kid wants to spread his wings a little bit and experience life away from home and create a whole different environment. VYPE: You're a veteran coach of the Class 6A state tournament every March. Do you think there are too many classes (six) for Kansas state competition? Ron Allen: I would be in favor of a single-class representation for state. That wouldn't bother me one bit. I don't know if it's fair - the abundance of athletes in 6A would certainly outweigh the talent in 3A on down. Now in 4A and 5A, you're going to find good solid communities which can compete. I'm sure it won't happen in my tenure, but I think it would be fun to see something like that gravitate toward an all-class tournament. VYPE: I also asked Ron Allen this question. Why do City League basketball players not move on to Wichita State? Carl Taylor: You got to understand - if you're a kid who grew up here all your life, you want to get out and grow up and meet new people and experience new places, like Jordan Cyphers at Utah (senior at Southeast last year). He's loving it out there. Another thing is, and I understand the financial burden (for Wichita State), but in the fall, football is what it's all about on college campuses. That's how you meet people - by interacting. VYPE: What is the most important message you can pass on to each of your players? Carl Taylor: Be a good citizen, be responsible, have good character and treat people as you want to be treated. Our players are responsible for what they do in the classroom - their grades come first. I enforce team discipline - I'm old school. I don't waver, I'm straight and to the point. They know what I stand for and our coaching staff expects. I have good communication with our (teaching) staff. If our kids are not doing well, they email me, and we have a talk with the kids and their parents. That's part of my job as a teacher and a coach. Really, a coach is a teacher. VYPE: Was last year's game against East in which Adonis Gantt tied the game in the finals seconds with a four-point play the most unexpected result in the Southeast-East rivalry? Carl Taylor: When Lester McCoy was a senior and Laverne Smith, and (East) had Korelone Young and them, out at Wichita State, on an out of bounds play, we made the shot. But the buzzer went off before. It should have counted, but that was an oustanding ballgame. And it should have went overtime. Lester tied it up. Last year, Adonis could have been only one on the court to think of that situation. In fairness to the kid who fouled Adonis, kids are competitive, especially between us. If he had just let him go, they